Cavan man who killed his wife at their family home is jailed for 12 years

Oliver Kierans, aged 57, from Drumbannon in Bailieborough, County Cavan, has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment following proceedings at the Central Criminal Court. A jury returned a majority verdict finding him guilty of manslaughter, but not guilty of murder, in the death of his wife Patricia Kierans on 5 September 2013 at their family home. He was also convicted of unlawful possession of a sawn-off shotgun and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly imposed concurrent sentences of nine years for manslaughter, eight years for unlawful possession, and twelve years for possession with intent to endanger life. The court heard that the couple had been married thirty-three years when marital difficulties arose in 2013. The judge noted that Mr Kierans, who has no previous convictions, subsequently attended a public house in Bailieborough where a protracted incident involving gardaí ensued, which was resolved peacefully.